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IOL News reports that the Dihlabeng Local Municipality in Bethlehem, Free State, must permanently hire a group of employees, whom it appointed for between eight and 15 years on fixed-term contracts and in the process contravened labour laws.
Five workers were either appointed as part of the municipality’s graduate development programme or their contracts did not specify a position for which they had been appointed. The workers, who were represented by the Independent Municipal and Allied Trade Union (Imatu), complained that their contracts were continuously extended or renewed by abusing their fixed-term contracts. The workers initially took the matter to the SA Local Government Bargaining Council (SALGBC), which ruled in their favour. The Dihlabeng municipality challenged the ruling at the Joburg Labour Court (LC).
Acting Judge Coen de Kock indicated last month: “The court recognises that the applicant (Dihlabeng) has engaged in a prolonged pattern of employing respondents on successive fixed-term contracts spanning eight to 15 years. This pattern is troubling and likely in breach of section 198B (of the Labour Relations Act).” The LC dismissed the municipality’s challenge of the SALGBC’s ruling on the grounds that it was not brought within a reasonable time and that the interests of justice did not favour it being heard. De Kock also ordered that the municipality must comply with the arbitration award within 30 days from 29 October 2025.
- Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Loyiso Sidimba at IOL News
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